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China summons Philippine ambassador over South China Sea encounter
🇸🇬 Singapore /Elections & Politics

China summons Philippine ambassador over South China Sea encounter

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • China summoned the Philippine ambassador over a recent maritime encounter in the South China Sea, accusing Manila of provocation.
  • Beijing claims Philippine vessels rammed a Chinese patrol boat and initiated attacks, while Manila alleges a Filipino navy personnel was struck and a boat damaged.
  • The China Coast Guard stated it allowed the transfer of an injured Filipino personnel for humanitarian reasons and will continue law enforcement operations in the contested waters.

Beijing summoned the Philippine ambassador on Tuesday, July 21, following a maritime incident in the Second Thomas Shoal, according to China's foreign ministry. The summons came after both nations traded accusations regarding an encounter between their vessels a day earlier in the disputed South China Sea waters.

The Philippine side provoked the incident first, yet has turned around and made counter-accusations, distorted the facts and engaged in malicious hype.

— Chinese foreign ministryChina's official accusation regarding the maritime encounter.

China's foreign ministry stated that the Philippine side provoked the incident and subsequently made counter-accusations, distorted facts, and engaged in malicious hype. The China Coast Guard (CCG) reported that two rubber boats from the Philippines' grounded vessel, BRP Sierra Madre, rammed a Chinese patrol boat. The CCG also alleged that Philippine personnel initiated "malicious attacks" against Chinese law enforcement officers using oars and long sticks.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) said on Monday two rubber boats sent by the Philippines' grounded vessel BRP Sierra Madre rammed into a Chinese patrol boat in the South China Sea and the Philippine personnel initiated "malicious attacks" against Chinese law enforcement officers by using oars and long sticks.

— China Coast GuardChina's account of the incident involving the vessels.

In contrast, Manila accused Beijing of aggressively striking one of its navy staff on the head with a wooden baton during the encounter and reported damage to a navy rubber boat. The Philippine military on Tuesday refuted China's claims as "false and misleading," asserting that its personnel did not initiate any confrontation.

The CCG inquired and verified the Philippine boats, and monitored the whole process.

— Jiang LueCCG spokesperson describing their actions during the transfer of injured personnel.

The CCG spokesperson, Jiang Lue, announced that China permitted the transfer of the injured Philippine personnel via small shuttle boats from the grounded warship "out of humanitarian consideration." The CCG monitored the entire process. China reiterated its commitment to continuing "rights-protection and law-enforcement operations" in the waters near the Second Thomas Shoal.

China will continue to carry out "rights-protection and law-enforcement operations" in waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, the contested area.

— Jiang LueCCG spokesperson affirming China's continued presence and operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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